“Recent data suggest that ghrelin is involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorders, affecting alcohol self-administration and craving.”

“Gastric ghrelin secretion is reduced by stomach distension.”

“In this randomized human laboratory study, we included 23 alcohol-dependent male inpatient subjects who underwent alcohol cue exposure. Participants of the intervention group drank 1000 ml of mineral water within 10 minutes directly thereafter, compared to the participants of the control group who did not.”

“In the intervention group, a significant decrease in acetylated ghrelin in plasma compared to the control group was observed.”

“This decrease was correlated to a reduction in patients’ subjective level of craving.”

“In the control group, no decrease of acetylated ghrelin in plasma and no association between alcohol craving and changes in plasma concentrations of acetylated ghrelin were observed.”

“Our results present new evidence that the modulation in the ghrelin system by oral water intake mediates the effects of volume intake with craving reduction in alcohol use disorders.”

A. Koopmann, et al.
Drinking water to reduce alcohol craving? A randomized controlled study on the impact of ghrelin in mediating the effects of forced water intake in alcohol addiction
Psychoneuroendocrinology — Volume 85 — November 2017 — page 56